The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal says Premier Sihle Zikalala has failed to take decisive actions against Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane.
On Saturday, Zikalala fined Simelane half of her salary for attending her birthday party where COVID-19 regulations were flouted.
DA KwaZulu-Natal Chief Whip Zwakele Mncwango says, “Considering that we’re living in South Africa where already there are examples where senior members in government have found to be in defiance of regulations like Stella Ndabeni at the national level who was actually suspended without pay, think for two or three months. Now, I expected the Premier to understand that Stella is not really in the forefront of the pandemic but here we’ve got the MEC who should be leading and he failed to be decisive and he failed to lead. It’s a wrong message to society because we gonna spread this virus that we’re all worried about now again. The Premier said the MEC showed remorse the MEC didn’t show remorse.”
BREAKING:
KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala has announced that 50 percent of Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane Zulu’s salary will be docked in next payment cycle for breaking COVID-19 rules.
She also has 7 days to issue an apology.
She has been warned by the Premier.#SABCNEWS pic.twitter.com/HdG2NzlCLC
— Chriselda ‘Babes We Ndaba’ Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) August 28, 2021
Simelane has been requested to issue a public apology within seven days and her salary will be docked in the next payment cycle.
Zikalala says Simelane has already received a warning from him. Half her salary will be docked in the next salary cycle and paid to a non-governmental organization that is fighting COVID-19 in the Amajuba municipality where the MEC resides.
A video of the incident has been circulating on social media.
Video: KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala briefs the media on reports that Health MEC broke COVID-19 rules:
Additional reporting by Nonhlakanipho Magwaza